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Rich Franklin Notes “I’ve Bailed The UFC Out a Lot”, Hoping to Make Title Run After Defeating Wanderlei Silva

After recording his second unanimous decision win over Wanderlei Silva last night at UFC 147 in Belo Horizonte, Rich Franklin revealed in the post-fight press conference that he’s hoping to make another run at the middleweight title.

Franklin was originally scheduled to fight middleweight Cung Le at UFC 148 on July 7th, however, when Vitor Belfort broke his hand and was forced to withdraw from his UFC 147 fight with Silva, the UFC came calling on the 37 year-old veteran.

“Moving back down to 185 again, the idea was that enough time had passed since my title fight and perhaps if I could put a couple wins together then I could make another run at the title before I retired,” said Franklin, who fought Silva at a catch-weight of 190 pounds. “That will be a discussion that I talk to Dana (White) about and the UFC in general to see what would be next for me and all those kinds of things.”

Last night’s win returned Franklin to the winner’s column, after he dropped a unanimous decision to light-heavyweight Forrest Griffin last February.

Prior to that fight, Franklin knocked out former champion Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 in June, 2010. The man nicknamed “Ace” had stepped in for the injured Tito Ortiz, who had been coaching opposite of Liddell on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“But that was my intention in moving back down to 185, and I’m glad that you and probably everybody else notices that I’ve bailed the UFC out a lot, because I’m hoping that’s going to pay off in the future at some point in time.”

Since failing to defeat Anderson Silva for a second time in October, 2007, who ended Franklin’s run as middleweight champion in October, 2006, the veteran has gone 5-3.

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:06 am

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